Unit 8 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution Flashcards
What is eutrophication?
Runoff from sewage and agriculture increases minerals in water that cause algae blooms
The blooms deprive the water of oxygen and it is harmful to aquatic life
What are the two pollutants released by a landfill, and how are they treated?
leachate: taken to waste treatment plant
methane: used as fuel
What are the three Rs and how much energy do each take?
Reduce - requires least energy
Reuse
Recycle - required most energy
What is the sewage treatment process?
- large and solid debris are filtered by screens
- coagulating (clumping) agents are added
- solid waste (sludge) settles to the bottom
- pathogens are chemically treated
- more treatment to remove micro-pollutants (pesticides)
- disinfected water is released into nearby water sources
- filter
- coagulate
- solid waste settles
- pathogens are treated
- more pathogen treatment
- disinfected water released
What is a point source pollutant?
Contaminants that enter the environment from an easily identifiable source
What is a non-point source pollutant?
Contaminants that DO NOT enter the environment from an easily identifiable source
What is bioaccumulation?
1 organism: the buildup of a harmful substance in the body of an organism
What is biomagnification?
Toxins becoming more concentrated as they move up the food chain
Turbidity: Source and Impact?
definition:
amount of sediment in the water
sources:
construction, bare ground, plowed fields
impact:
- reduces infiltration of sunlight -> less photosynthesis
- clogs gills
Thermal Pollution: Source and Impact
definition:
the sudden change of water temperature
sources:
- the removal of cold water or dumping of warm water
- electric power plants
- steel and paper mills
impact:
- thermal shock: change in temp. kills organisms
- warm water does not contain as much dissolved oxygen (suffocation)
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Source and Impact?
definition:
carbon based molecules that break down slowly
sources:
pesticides and industry chemicals
impact:
- bioaccumulates and biomagnifies
- grasshopper effect (travels far through wind and water)
- endocrine disruptors
Eutrophication: Source and Impact
definition:
the release of nitrogen and phosphorus into waterways
sources:
wastewater, fertilizer, runoff
impact:
- causes rapid algae growth
- decreased oxygen levels: dead zones
Endocrine Disruptors: Source and Impact?
definition:
chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system/hormones
sources:
- animal facilities
- birth control pills
- pesticides
impact:
- bioaccumulates
- biomagnifies
- harms hormones and development of fish, reptiles, and amphibians
Heavy Metals: Source and Impact?
sources - mercury:
- burning of coal
- cement industry
impact:
- bioaccumulates
- biomagnifies
- converts to methylmercury: highly toxic and damages nervous system and embryos of wildlife
SARS: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- type of pneumonia
- transferred by touching/inhaling affected fluids
- type of coronavirus
- flu symptoms
- sanitation and hygiene
- hand washing, disinfection
- started in China and spread
- came from animals or labs
- no treatment
MERS: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- camel -> person -> person
- viral respiratory illness
- type of coronavirus
- respiratory issues
- pneumonia
- cough and fever
- don’t associate with camels
- spread out more
- Arabian Peninsula
- no treatment, only symptom relief
Zika: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- mosquito -> human
- mosquito -> monkey -> human
- human to human from blood transfusions and sex
- mostly symptomless
- tiny headed babies
Same as Malaria and West Nile - Latin America, Africa, Asia
- no treatment
Plague: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- fleas on rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits
- bite or contact from infected organisms -> humans
- bubonic plague (black death)
- swollen lymph nodes
- prevented by sanitation and pest control
- killed millions in the middle-ages
- cases still in Africa and Asia
- treatment: antibiotics
Malaria: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- parasites in mosquitos -> humans
- transferred by blood transfusions, organ transplants, needles, or birth
- fever, chills, nausea, etc.
- (if bad) liver failure, seizures, death,
Same as West Nile - controlling mosquito populations
- prefers warmth, humidity, and rainfall
- global warming makes it worse
- high humidity areas
Sub-Saharan Africa - treatments: antiparasitic drugs/medications
West Nile: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- bird -> mosquito -> human
- fever, weakness, fatigue
- if bad: coma, seizure, paralysis
same as malaria - controlling mosquito populations
- prefers warmth, humidity, and rainfall
- global warming makes it worse
- worldwide
- no treatment
Mesothelioma: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- Caused by exposure to asbestos
- Lung cancer
- prevented by reducing exposure
- Affects working class and people using asbestos products
- Treatment: cancer treatments
Tuberculosis: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- bacteria in lungs
- spreads by coughing, talking
- bacteria starts in lungs and travels to kidneys, spine, and brain
- bad cough (bloody)
- sanitization prevents it
- overcrowding is bad
- more common in countries with malaria and HIV
- treatment: antibiotics to slow it
Cholera: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- bacteria in water to person
- bacteria -> shellfish -> human
- spreads in places without sewage treatment
- diarrhea
- blue skin
- dehydration
- kills within hours
Same as Dysentery - in places with bad sanitation x hygiene
- prevention: waste treatment
- climate change causes it to spread faster
- Africa, Asia, Haiti
- Treatment: fluids, electrolytes, antibiotics
Dysentery: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?
- untreated sewage carrying parasites, amoebas, and/or worms
- can be sexually transmitted
- passed when person does not wash hands and touches people/food
- destroys intestinal lining
- bloody diarrhea
- painful; stomach cramps, etc.
Same as Cholera - in places with bad sanitation x hygiene
- prevention: waste treatment
- climate change causes it to spread faster
-in countries lacking sewage treatment
- South America, SE Asia, Africa
- treatments: fluids, antibiotics, electrolytes, antiparasitic drugs
How do you find lethal dosage (LD50) on a graph?
50% dead mark = lethal dosage
How do you find threshold of toxicity on a graph?
whenever the graph shows a noticeable effect of the drug
What are the two types of septic systems?
Septic tank - scum, septage, and sludge layers
Leech field - filtered waste is transported to be deposited in soil
What is the difference between closed and open loop recycling?
closed: goods are recycled back into itself or a similar product (more sustainable, minimal degradation)
open: goods are recycled into same or completely different product (less sustainable, more degradation)
